Optical Device With Increased Depth Of Field

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an optical device ( 500 ) with a device ( 600 ) for increasing the depth of field having at least one optical element ( 3 ) with different focal lengths (f 1 , f 2 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of German patent application no. 10 2005 033 922.0 filed Jul. 20, 2005 and of German patent application no. 10 2005 036 486.1 filed Aug. 3, 2005, which are both incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an optical device, in particular to a stereomicroscope, having means for increasing the depth of field when viewing an object field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Microscopes comprise at least two imaging optical systems, one main objective and an eyepiece. In principle, all optical observation devices have the same fundamental structure of objective and eyepiece. These two optical elements, objective and eyepiece, form a total system and predefine both the possible magnification range and the field depth range. In many areas where microscopes are used, in particular surgical microscopes such as those used in neurosurgery, a very high degree of depth of field is important, because the surgeon has to see not only the focusing plane, but also as many regions of the object as possible in a range of sharp focus.

Improvement of depth of field is traditionally achieved by decreasing the size of the aperture. There are stereomicroscopes, such as the LEICA M651 and LEICA M690 (brochure LEICA M651/M690 X.96-SCH 1995, page 6), which provide a double iris diaphragm for simultaneously decreasing the aperture of both beam paths. The disadvantage that has to be accepted with this traditional way of improving the depth of field, however, is the loss in terms of resolution and image brightness.

A further, albeit technically very complicated increase in depth of field is known from EP-B1-0988572. Here, provision is made for a device which modifies the focal length of the system at very high speed. This is done either by displacing a lens longitudinally with respect to the beam path or by placing a lens having different optical properties transversely into the beam path. A shutter opens the beam path in cyclic fashion in relation to this movement only when the movement has reached its outermost point and briefly comes to a halt. The speed of this movement must be sufficiently high for so-called “stereoscopic pumping” (image movement) and brightness flicker not to occur.

Quite apart from the very high technical outlay mentioned, this solution is not practical in microscopes, if only for weight and space reasons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object was thus to find a solution for improving the depth of field in an optical device, in particular in a microscope, without the disadvantages of the known solutions for improving the depth of field occurring.

The inventor recognized that, in order to achieve the object, the mechanical part, the iris diaphragm, can be replaced by an optically imaging element. The inventor recognized that it is possible to improve the depth of field in an optical device (e.g. in a microscope) by means of a single optical element having a plurality of (that is to say at least two) different focal lengths.

In accordance with the invention it is possible to use bifocal lenses, multifocal lenses or diffractive elements for this purpose.

Bifocal lenses, or “dual-magnification lenses”, are lenses having regions of two different focal lengths and are used in spectacle lenses, for example.

Progressive lenses, in which two or more regions having different focal lengths are joined by transition zones having continuously changing focal length, that is to say without sharp or stepped transition, are suitable as further embodiment variant.

A further embodiment variant can be achieved by means of producing different focal lengths with a freeform surface lens as well.

Diffractive optical elements (DOE) are also suitable, as further embodiment variant mentioned above, for producing different focal lengths. In general, these are elements which have, on their optical surfaces or a layer, structures or gratings of the order of magnitude of the optical wavelength.

Use of lenses achieving the different focal length ranges through a combination of the properties described is also conceivable. By way of example, use of lenses having refractive properties for one focal length and diffractive properties for another focal length is possible.

What is common to all the optical elements mentioned is that they focus the transmitted light in two or more focal lengths. The common mode of action according to the invention is thus illustrated schematically for all the abovementioned optical elements by way of example on the basis of a bifocal lens.

Further embodiments of the invention emerge from the figures and the dependent patent claims. The list of reference symbols is part of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEWS

Details of the invention are explained symbolically and by way of example with reference to figures. The figures are described coherently and comprehensively. Identical reference symbols denote identical components, and reference symbols with different indices denote parts that perform the same function or are similar.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view and a side view of an optical element with different focal lengths used in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the beam paths resulting therefrom in the focus range;

FIG. 3 shows the beam paths, produced in accordance with the invention by means of optical elements with concentrically arranged regions of different focal lengths, in a stereomicroscope; and

FIG. 4 shows the stereomicroscope from FIG. 3 with optical elements having decentrically arranged regions of different focal lengths.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 schematically shows a bifocal lens 3 as an optical element with different focal lengths used in accordance with the invention. This bifocal lens 3 has a central first region 1 with a first focal length f₁, which region is arranged centrically with respect to the axis 4. A further, second region 2 with a second focal length f₂ different from the focal length f₁ is arranged concentrically with respect to said central first region 1 with a first focal length f₁. The concentric arrangement of regions 1 and 2 is not, however, necessary. As will be seen in further figures, a decentric arrangement of the first region 1 is likewise possible. The first region 1 and the second region 2 are depicted as delimited from one another by means of a contour, although a preferred type of lens envisages a continuous transition rather than a sharp contour in order to avoid a discontinuous transition from one focal length to the other.

Multifocal lenses which can be used in accordance with the invention have correspondingly more regions with different focal lengths, which regions may also be arranged concentrically or decentrically.

FIG. 2 shows the focussing ranges of an optical element 3 according to FIG. 1. It shows, by way of example, the way in which light beams 10, 20 traverse the corresponding regions 1 and 2 with focal lengths f₁ and f₂. Corresponding focal points 11 and 21 lie in different focal planes 12 and 22. Image planes which are still imaged in a sharp manner by region 1 and thus define a first field depth range 100 for region 1 are situated above and below the focal plane 12. The same applies in a corresponding fashion to region 2, the focal point 21 of which is situated in the focal plane 22 and defines a second field depth range 200. The total field depth range of the optical element 3 with different focal lengths f₁ and f₂ is the sum 300 of the field depth ranges 100 and 200.

In the embodiment depicted, the focal lengths f₁ and f₂ of the optical element 3 are selected such that the first field depth range 100 and the second field depth range 200 adjoin one another. It is, however, also possible in the same manner for the field depth ranges 100 and 200 to overlap. It is preferred here to design the optical element 3 with different focal lengths f₁ and f₂ such that the difference value of optical element 3 between the focal lengths f₁ and f₂ is selected to be sufficiently small for the occurring difference in magnification not to play a noticeable role.

The known methods of increasing the depth of field in optical devices (in particular closing the aperture by means of an iris diaphragm) have the disadvantage that resolution, image brightness and contrast decrease. In the method described here, too, the same disadvantage occurs, but to a lesser extent. Moreover, the total brightness capacity in the optical device is always decreased, in principle, in optical devices into which a further, additional optical element is placed. This loss in brightness, however, is again less than when closing the aperture. It is not possible to prevent these disadvantages from occurring, since the respective effective pupils are smaller with regard to the respective focal lengths than the effective area of an optical element 3 designed for a single focal length f₁.

FIG. 3 schematically depicts a part of a Galilean stereomicroscope 500 (so-called telescope type, with a common main objective for both microscope beam paths). Use of optical elements with different focal lengths for increasing the depth of field according to the invention is likewise suitable for stereomicroscopes of the Greenough type (having a single objective for each of the microscope beam paths).

The stereomicroscope has a main objective 510, which defines two parallel beam paths 14. An afocal zoom system 520 is furthermore depicted, which zoom system 520 comprises a first zoom lens 521 arranged in pairs and zoom lenses 522 and 523 which are likewise arranged in pairs. The remaining structure of a stereomicroscope with tube lenses and eyepieces is not depicted in more detail, since it does not deviate from the general knowledge of the person skilled in the art in the field of microscope design.

A pair of optical elements 3 with different focal lengths f₁ and f₂ is preferably arranged between the main objective 510 and the first zoom lens 521 in the parallel beam paths 14 of the stereomicroscope 500. The two optical elements 3 with different focal lengths f₁ and f₂ correspond to those shown in FIG. 1 and have concentrically arranged regions 1 and 2. The two optical elements 3 with different focal lengths f₁ and f₂ are coupled to each other by means of a connecting piece 23 and can be moved simultaneously into the two beam paths 14 of the microscope 500. As a result, image planes situated above the object 13 and within the field depth range 300 are fed to a main objective 5 10 by means of the light beams 10 and 20 and imaged to infinity by means of the afocal zoom system 520. This image is fed to the viewer by means of the tube and eyepiece lenses (not illustrated).

The light beams 10 and 20 from FIG. 2 are shown symbolically by means of their axes 15 and 25, respectively, in FIG. 3. The main objective 510 and the regions 1 and 2 of the optical elements 3 are selected and arranged such that the respective light beams, characterized by their axes 15 and 25, are aligned in parallel fashion in the beam paths 14. Parallel alignment of the beam paths is necessary on account of the afocal nature of the zoom system 520. If diffractive elements are used as elements with multifocal properties according to the invention, this parallel alignment of the beam paths can be achieved for example by means of a blaze angle or in a traditional way by means of beam-deflecting systems of lenses or prisms.

Region 2 of the optical element 3 with multifocal properties can also be configured as a plane-parallel plate.

FIG. 4 shows the same arrangement of a stereomicroscope 500 as in FIG. 3, except that now the optical elements 3 with multifocal properties no longer have two concentric regions 1 and 2 with different focal lengths f₁ and f₂. Regions 1′ and 2′ are arranged in a decentric and mirror-symmetrical manner.

In embodiment variants in which diffractive elements (for example made of plastic) are used as optical elements 3 with multifocal properties, as shown in FIG. 1 and 3 or 4, these diffractive elements can also be connected directly for example with lenses 521. In this case, the illustrated, removable elements 3 and 3′, respectively, can be dispensed with.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1—first region with a first focal length f,

2—second region with a second focal length f₂

3—optical element with different focal lengths f, and f₂

4—axis of 3

10—light beam with respect to region 1

11—focal point of 10

12—focal plane of 10

13—object

14—beam path

15—axis of 10

20—light beam with respect to region 2

21—focal point of 20

22—focal plane of 20

23—connecting piece

25—axis of 20

100—depth of field of region 1; first field depth range

200—depth of field of region 2; second field depth range

300—depth of field across all regions

500—stereomicroscope

510—main objective

520—afocal zoom system

521—first zoom lens

522—zoom lens

523—zoom lens

600—device for increasing the depth of field

700—working distance

f₁—focal length of region 1

f₂—focal length of region 2 

1. An optical device comprising: at least one main objective for imaging an object observed by the optical device; and at least one optical element for increasing a depth of field of the optical device, wherein the optical element includes a first region having a first focal length and a second region having a second focal length which differs from the first focal length.
 2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element includes a refractive optical element.
 3. The optical device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one optical element includes a multifocal lens.
 4. The optical device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one optical element includes a bifocal lens.
 5. The optical device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one optical element includes a trifocal lens.
 6. The optical device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one optical element includes a freeform surface lens.
 7. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element includes a diffractive optical element (DOE).
 8. The optical device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one optical element includes a holographic optical element (HOE).
 9. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element includes an optical element that produces the first focal length by refraction and the second focal length by diffraction.
 10. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region are concentric.
 11. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first region and the second region are decentric.
 12. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first region focuses a light beam into a first focal point and provides a first field depth range, and the second region focuses a light beam into a second focal point and provides a second field depth range.
 13. The optical device according to claim 12, wherein the first field depth range and the second field depth range adjoin or overlap one another to form a continuous total field depth range which is larger than the first field depth range and which is larger than the second field depth range.
 14. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is a stereomicroscope of a Galilean type.
 15. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is a stereomicroscope of a Greenough type.
 16. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is a stereomicroscope, and the at least one optical element includes a pair of optical elements positioned one in each beam path of the stereomicroscope.
 17. The optical device according to claim 16, wherein each of the pair of optical elements is configured to provide parallel light along its respective beam path in a direction of a viewer.
 18. The optical device according to claim 16, wherein each of the pair of optical elements is a diffractive optical element having a blaze angle chosen to provide the parallel light.
 19. The optical device according to claim 16, wherein each of the pair of optical elements is a reffractive optical element deflecting its respective beam to provide the parallel light.
 20. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is a surgical microscope. 